Irish Impact on Baseball in America

   Everybody knows that the National Baseball Hall of Fame is located in Cooperstown, New York, but how many people know of the one located at Foley's NY Pub and Restaurant on West 33rd Street.  This is the home of the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame as well as "The Bar That Banned Danny Boy".   The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame was created by baseball historian and owner of Foley's, Shaun Clancy in 2008 and honors the players, managers, executives, writers, and entertainers with Irish roots who have made an impact on the game of baseball.  The inductees are honored in the hall with plaques and include such names as Red Foley, the famed baseball journalist and inspiration for the naming of Foley's pub, Connie Mack, Tug McGraw, Kevin Costner and many more.  There are four criteria to be met prior to enshrinement in the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.  First of all, is the impact the person has had on the game of baseball.  Next, is the person's popularity on and off the field.  Third, is the contributions that the person has had on society, and last of course is the person's ancestry and connections to the Irish community.
  
The following is a list of inductees to the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame since 2008:

2008: Sean Casey, Kevin Costner, John Flaherty, Pete Flynn, Connie Mack, Tug McGraw, Mark  McGwire, Red Foley, Jeff Horrigan.
2009:  Walter O'Malley, Steve Garvey, Paul O'Neill, Vin Scully, Jim Joyce, Ed Lucas.
2010:  Tim McCarver, Brian Cashman, Bill James, Bob Murphy, Mike "King" Kelly.
2011:  Nolan Ryan, Big Ed Walsh, John McGraw, Gene Monahan and Steve Donohue, Terry Cashman, Chuck Lennon.

   The 2012 nominees include two former managers from South Amboy, New Jersey:  Tom Kelly, and Jack McKeon.  Also on the ballot is Peter O'Malley.  O'Malley is the former owner of the Dodgers and is also responsible for donating $140,000 toward the building of a baseball facility in Clondalkin, West Dublin.  Many other names are listed on the ballot, but it will be up to the past inductees and a panel of baseball experts to decide who will be the next group to be enshrined on July 27, 2012.
   Irish Americans have always made outstanding contributions to the game of baseball.  Even though Mark McGwire might never get into The National Baseball Hall of Fame he will always have a spot in the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame.   This St. Patrick's Day if you're in New York,  The Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame is the place to gain respect for and learn more about the many contributions Irish Americans have made in shaping baseball's rich history.